Free As Good as Dead by Patricia H. Rushford Page A

office to learn the approximate time of delivery. He’d been there only a few minutes when Angel pulled into the driveway.
    Now, an hour later, he eased his rented Lexus past the house, eyeing the cops who were meticulously getting ready to detonate the bomb and working feverishly to gather evidence. The bomb tech in the ballistic suit had cordoned off the area and was setting up a portable X-ray around the package. To protect themselves, they wouldn’t likely take prints prior to detonating the package, but even if they did, they wouldn’t find any—at least not his.
    Still, it irked him that Angel had caught on to the letter bomb so quickly. He hoped she’d deliver it or that Luke would come by to pick it up. But then, maybe he’d guessed wrong. Maybe Luke hadn’t contacted his family after all. He’d gone to the funeral, Cade knew that much. Luke had gotten away before Cade could escape the jammed parking lot. Otherwise he’d have taken care of his business right there in Sunset Cove.
    What bothered him even more was Angel’s detective friend. Cade’s scowl turned to a smile when the detective caught his gaze. He waved and kept moving at the same speed. Cade hated wasted efforts, and it appeared this letter had been one. Now he had tofind another way to glean the information he needed. If anyone would know how to find Luke Delaney, his sister would. He’d just have to bide his time—something at which he was actually quite good.
    He stopped at the main road and thrummed his fingers on the steering wheel. Then, getting his bearings, he turned south toward the resort at which he was staying. The five-star resort, he’d discovered earlier today, belonged to Luke’s twin brothers who had both gone to Florida that morning. Small world. A very small world.
    Cade felt the chill of fear slither up his spine. A local police officer had been shot. The very one who had been with Luke on the day of the funeral. An attorney by the name of Rachael Rastovski had contacted the DA in Fort Myers, asking questions about the Penghetti case and Luke’s involvement in it. It hadn’t taken long to link Rastovski with Paul Delaney. And a day later the brothers fly off to Florida.
    Coincidence? Hardly. Had they learned something? He hoped for their sake they hadn’t. The Penghetti brothers had eyes everywhere. If the organization got wind of the Delaney boys snooping around in their business, the lads could end up as horse meat in one of their southern packing plants—or worse.
    Not that he cared. Cade had enough worries of his own. Besides, he didn’t need the brothers. Angel was his best shot at finding Luke. He just had to figure out the best way to get to her.

TWELVE
    A fter a wonderful dinner of sautéed shrimp and rice and a salad, Callen and Angel cleaned the kitchen, banishing Anna to the living room to rest. The walk had exhausted her, and she’d fallen asleep watching Antiques Roadshow.
    Angel dried the last dish that wouldn’t fit in the dishwasher, hung up the towel, and grabbed a lightweight jacket from the hook near the back door.
    Callen had poured them both peach iced teas. “If you get the door, I’ll carry these out.”
    Angel pulled open the glass patio door leading to the back deck. Callen set the drinks down and then pulled her into his arms for a searing kiss.
    Moments later, he pulled away, his hands moving up and down on her bare arms. “Are you going to be warm enough?”
    She smiled, holding up the jacket she’d brought out but hadn’t yet put on. He helped her into it and settled onto the swing. Angel snuggled in beside him, in the crook of his arm. I could get used to this.
    The sun was going down, and as had become their evening ritual, they planned to watch the flaming red ball dip into the sea. This was the first opportunity they’d had to talk, and Angel was anxious to learn what, if anything, Callen’s investigation into the shooting had unearthed.
    Callen ruffled her hair when she